Finding a Twin

Chapter 38 : Plans for Dalton

Chapter 38

Later...

Jeff POV

I could tell everything was bothering Riker. A lot. He's been so quiet, and he just looks super upset. And I feel responsible because I'm the reason for screwing everything up.

Riker walked into the bedroom after taking a shower. His eyes were pink and so was the tip of his nose.

"Riker, have you been crying?"

"Yeah, a little..."

His nose sounded all stuffy. He put away his dirty clothes, and sat down on his bed next to me. He started doing random things on his phone. I was sort of watching him out of the corner of my eye, and he was biting his lip. Hard. And before I knew it, there were tears going down his cheeks.

"Riker."

He wiped his cheeks, and then turned to look at me.

"Please don't cry."

"Sorry..."

"What's wrong?"

"I just don't want you to leave, ok? You're like my best friend, and I love you, and I'm just upset, ok?"

I pulled him into a hug, and he started to cry more.

"Riker, just come with me then. I don't want to get separated from you either."

"No, I can't. The tuition is really expensive, and we don't have a lot of money. We'll be lucky if we have enough to send you there. And besides, I wouldn't fit in there. I've had a normal life, and I don't even know anyone."

"You know Nicky. And David said he talked to you."

"Jeff, that's not the point. I can't go, ok?"

Riker broke away, and got under the covers. He shut off the light, and curled up into a ball, facing away from me.

"Riker, it's going to be ok. We'll figure it out."

I laid down next to him. And I fell asleep, listening to his soft sniffles.

Morning...

Jeff POV

Mom said I didn't have to go to school. We all knew I was probably going to have another panic attack, and she'd just have to come pick me up again. But I was having breakfast with everyone else before they left.

Riker kept crying, then stopping, then crying again next to me. It's like he couldn't even control himself anymore. He can't hold in his emotions.

"Mom, you can't seriously send Riker to school today," Rydel said, looking at mom, who was making more pancakes.

"Why not?"

"Mom, he's not going to make it through the day. Look at him. He's too upset. Just let him spend the day with Jeff. Let them have some brother time."

Mom looked over at Riker, who was wiping away more tears.

"Alright, fine. Riker, you can stay home today."

We finished breakfast, and then everyone got on the bus. Riker and I went back upstairs. 

Later...

Jeff POV

Riker's a complete mess. Mom had brought him into her room to talk to him, which is where he was right now.

The door opened, and Riker came in. He flopped down on the bed, and buried his face into the pillow. I started rubbing his back, and he cried louder.

"Riker, please don't cry... I don't like seeing you like this," I said, quietly.

He curled up next to me, starting to let out these very strained cries. It was like he was trying to hold them in, but he was failing, and it honestly sounded like short screams.

"Riker, please stop."

I laid down next to him, and wrapped my arms around him.

"Riker... It's not the end of the world. We can visit each other, ok? And we don't even know if I'm going or not."

"You're going. Mom told me you were. They just need to get you enrolled and pay the tuition, and then you're going," he choked out.

I started to cry. Of course I'm happy to go to Dalton, but I was really sad to leave Riker. And seeing him so upset was making me even more upset. I felt like I was hurting him by leaving.

Later...

Riker POV

Mom was forcing us to come down for dinner. My stomach was definitely not making me want to eat. All the crying I did earlier made my stomach feel like it was in knots, and it still felt that way.

I'd composed myself about an hour ago, and I hadn't let myself start crying again. I need to be strong.

I was barely able to hold myself together though. Jeff is handling this surprisingly better than I am. 

"Alright. I thought we'd let you know that Jeff is going to Dalton. And he's leaving on Saturday. We're flying with him to Ohio so we can sign some papers. I want you all to be on your best behavior while we are gone," dad said.

"Can I please come?" I asked, just above a whisper.

"Yes, Riker."

I sighed in relief. I want every last moment I can get with Jeff. I don't know when we'll be able to visit.

Mom made it clear that after my behavior today, she was letting me stay home for the rest of the week. But I was supposed to help Jeff pack for Dalton, starting tonight.

After dinner, we went upstairs, and we were going to start packing. Mom had done laundry today, so all of Jeff's stuff was clean, and ready to be packed up.

Everything he owned fit in one suitcase with room to spare. He'd been mostly borrowing my clothes, and he barely had any from his old home.

"Wow... I don't have much..." Jeff said, looking at his half empty suitcase.

"Well they said you would be wearing a uniform, so you don't need much. Maybe just some pjs and some comfy clothes for the weekend and stuff. If you want, you can take some of mine."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

I dug out the things Jeff had been borrowing. I folded them up, and put them in his suitcase.

"There. Now you can think of me when you wear my stuff."

"Thanks, Riker."

Jeff hugged me, and it literally took everything in me not to start crying again. I blinked back my tears as we pulled apart.

"Now what?" Jeff asked.

"I don't know... Maybe we can just try to relax, and have a mini movie night up here by ourselves."

"Ok."

I made us some popcorn, and brought it upstairs. I was feeling sort of hungry now that I'd calmed down. I hadn't really eaten much all day. 

I pulled up Netflix on my laptop. I picked a random movie, and then shut off the lights. I had my arm around Jeff. He had his head on my chest.

We stayed like that until the movie was over. And then we fell asleep like that.

A/N : I literally spent like 6 hours reading half a book last night for english... So annoying... Also, there is only one chapter left in this book, but there will definitely be a sequel. I already have some chapters typed up for it.